Results 2,821-2,840 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: The information sought is not available in my Department in regard to planning applications. The Central Statistics Office publishes quarterly statistics on planning as part of the housing quarterly statistics. This identifies planning permissions granted for one-off houses.

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: My reply to Questions Nos. 1504 and 1505 of 25 January 2006 did not state that it is Government policy to require local authorities to set a standing charge for waste collection services provided by them. Many local authorities do not have a standing charge and rely exclusively on usage based charges. It is the case that, in accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: The River Lickey was proposed for designation as a special area of conservation, SAC, in 2003 as an extension to the Blackwater river SAC. As required under section 4 of the habitats regulations, my Department notified the other relevant Departments and planning authorities of the intention to designate. In January 2003, officials of my Department furnished Waterford County Council with full...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: Some €3.7 billion will be spent under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 on the provision of water services infrastructure. Substantial increases in water treatment and storage capacity are being achieved as a result of this investment. Schemes completed since 1997 have produced additional drinking water treatment capacity equivalent to the needs of a population of 1,073,000. The...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: The EPA reports on water quality in Ireland present a review of water quality in various water bodies, including groundwaters, and identify suspected causes of pollution. The EPA also provides details of the quality of urban waste water discharges and sewage sludges in its reports on urban waste water discharges in Ireland. Both reports are available in the Oireachtas Library. Local...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: I understand methane gas is not released in a well operated and maintained waste water collection or treatment system. Sludge is a waste water treatment by-product and the generation of methane gas for use as a fuel may be a beneficial feature of sludge treatment, in particular anaerobic digestion. Sludge treatment facilities should not release methane into the environment in the course of...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department has more than 3,700 suppliers of goods and services. It would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work to examine the files relating to all contracts held with those suppliers over the last four years and compile the details referred to in the question. If the Deputy wishes to indicate a particular more limited area of interest, my Department will seek to provide the...

Written Answers — Radon Gas: Radon Gas (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: During the years 1992 to 1999, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, carried out a nationwide survey of radon gas in domestic dwellings. The survey involved the measurement of radon for a 12-month period in a random selection of homes in each 10 km x 10 km grid square throughout the country. The results of the survey were used to predict the percentage of houses in each grid...

Written Answers — Public Service Vehicles: Public Service Vehicles (14 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: The information requested for the years 2000 to 2004, inclusive, is published in table 8 of the annual Irish Bulletin of Vehicle and Driver Statistics, available in the Oireachtas Library. The details for the year 2005 are set out in the following table. Taxi Hackney Limousine Total County Councils Carlow 103 78 5 186 Cavan 40 106 146 Clare 150...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (15 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: Separate processes apply in the case of recruitment to posts in local authorities and the Civil Service. There are no formal arrangements at present for the direct transfer of staff between the sectors. However, a civil servant may apply for any post in the local authority service that is offered by open competition provided that he or she possesses the required qualifications. I understand...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (15 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: The EPA is responsible for the collation and publication of inventories of greenhouse gas emissions, which are prepared on an annual basis pursuant to UN and EU obligations. Table 1 sets out the published figures for both carbon dioxide and total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding absorption of greenhouse gases from land-use and forestry, for each of the five most recent years for which...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (15 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: Ireland is committed, pursuant to the Kyoto Protocol, to limiting growth in greenhouse gas emissions to 13% above 1990 levels in the 2008 to 2012 commitment period. In 2003, the latest year for which published figures are available, Ireland's emissions were approximately 25% above the 1990 level. I also refer to the reply to Question No. 330 on today's Order Paper. The national climate change...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (15 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: Last summer, I published the draft Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations and the draft Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations as part of a public consultation process. These draft regulations amend the Waste Management (Permit) Regulations 1998 and the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2001, respectively. Public advertisements invited...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (15 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: The improvement and maintenance of non-national roads in its area is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. My Department has not received any request from Kildare County Council for funding towards the provision of sheep grids on non-national roads.

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (15 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department has no proposals from Kildare County Council regarding a sewerage scheme at Kilberry, Athy, County Kildare, nor was such a proposal included in the list of schemes submitted by Kildare County Council in November 2003 in response to my Department's request to all local authorities to undertake fresh assessments of the needs for capital works in their areas and to prioritise their...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (15 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: Details of non-national road grants paid by my Department to Kildare County Council and the council's own resources expenditure on non-national roads for each of the years 2001 to 2005 are set out in the following table. Own resources expenditure is based on returns received from Kildare County Council. Year Grant Payments Own Resources â'¬ â'¬ 2001 21,148,246 4,190,135 2002...

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: Something marvellous must have happened on St. Valentine's Day.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: I would be disappointed if it were otherwise.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: I have good news for Senator Norris on both counts.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

Dick Roche: We will reflect in the meantime.